Reality hasn’t set in for Katelyn Malo yet.
Next week, Black Spruce Gallery and Framing is closing.
It was the spring of 2015 that she opened its doors downtown Timmins.
As a photographer, she felt she was spending a lot of time at home answering emails and editing photographs.
“It’s a really isolating job a lot of the time,” she explained.
Just as she wanted a bit of a change, the space, located on Pine Street South across from Christopher’s Coffee House, went up for rent.
Now the walls are lined with the work of local artists, while tables and other shelf space feature the work of Northeastern Ontario artisans. There is pottery, jewlery, knitting, and more from local makers who sell on consignment. She’s also held different painting workshops in the space.
“I’m just passionate about local art and there’s so many incredibly talented artists here,” she said.
And through Black Spruce, she’s been able to give artists new ways to showcase their work.
Currently, the work of Linda Guiho and Dean Levesque of Wawaitin ClayWorks is being featured for the farewell exhibit.
There are decorative pieces, as well as mugs and functional items with a Northern flare, which are available for purchase. The pieces will be on display until Dec. 23.
Today is Malo’s second-last Friday open.
Through the noon hour, people steadily walked in from the street. Some were new customers taking a peek. Others had been there before, and wanted to know what comes next.
It’s a question she doesn’t quite know how to answer, though.
Leaving the space isn’t what she planned.
“It’s been amazing. I feel like it’s been really well supported by the community,” she said.
“It didn’t fail because nobody can open an art gallery in Timmins.”
Malo hasn’t ruled out setting up in a new location, but she said it would have to be a space that she could be as passionate about.
“This place is just so awesome and so great” she said.
One of the highlights, at the gallery for Malo was the miniature show, which saw artists from across the north submit tiny art.
Being able to connect with so many people has also been special.
“For me, the highlights have just been meeting people in the community and seeing everyone’s art every day,” she said.
Malo does have a project to keep her busy for a while.
She recently teamed up with the Timmins and District Humane Society for a still photograph series to capture to the special relationship between an adopted pet and its forever family.
She is aiming to showcase how pets rescued from the local shelter have settled into their new families.
Since launching the project last month, she said people have been reaching out. If you’d like to have your story captured, there is still time to make connect. More details on it are available here.
To stop by Black Spruce Gallery and Framing, the hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 Tuesday to Friday, and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
